May 25 DVD roundup

Not too much in mainstream releases this week: “Dear John” and “The Road.” Two Internet favorites: “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog” and “The Guild: Season Three.” Several British television series and films are available, and a few American TV seasons as well.

Usual rules apply: synopses are taken from the press releases, snarky commentary is extra, and preview links go to Apple.com. And just in case you were wondering, the DVD prices are the listed retail prices. You can get them cheaper if you buy at discount stores or online.

John (Channing Tatum) and Savannah (Amanda Seyfried) are young adults in love. They are separated for a year when John fulfills his military obligation and Savannah goes to finish her college education. But war extends John’s tour and their relationship suffers. Get out the hankies. From the book by Nicholas Sparks, who also penned “The Notebook.” Also stars San Antonio’s Henry Thomas. Extras: deleted/alternate scenes, alternate ending, outtakes, interviews, four featurettes. BD adds movieIQ+sync and BD-Live capacity.

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

New Video NYC, 42 minutes, 10 episodes, $19.95 (BD debut)

BD debut of the 2008 Internet miniseries has Billy, aka Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris) as a budding supervillian who can’t seem to make his plans for world domination work. He has two goals: getting accepted into the Evil League of Evil, and working up the courage to speak to Penny (Felicia Day), a girl he sees at the laundromat. Blocking his path is Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), his superhero archnemesis. Conceived during the 2008 Writer’s Strike and from the mind of Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, Firefly). Extras: commentary, musical commentary, featurettes, video applications from fans looking to join the Evil League of Evil, Easter Eggs.

Flashpoint: The Second Season

CBS Video, 377 minutes, 2 discs, $39.98

Second season about a Canadian SWAT team that work on crimes where people take matters (or the law) into their own hands. Negotiation is the first option, but the sharpshooters are ready to do what’s necessary if things don’t settle down. No extras listed.

George Gently, Series 2

Acorn Media, 356 minutes, 4 films, 4 discs, $59.99

Second set of made-for-television films based on the detective novels of Alan Hunter in Britain’s swingin’ 1960s. Includes “Gently with the Innocents,” “Gently in the Night,” “Gently in the Blood,” and “Gently through the Mill.” Extras: text interviews, production notes, historical facts.

The Glory Boys/The Contract

Acorn Media, 308 minutes, 2 films, 2 discs, $39.99

Two films based on books by author and espionage expert Gerald Seymour. “The Glory Boys” has a joint Palestinian-IRA hit team out to kill an Israeli nuclear scientist (Rod Steiger). “The Contract” has a former British operative called back into Her Majesty’s Service to assist a defecting Soviet missile designer. Extras: cast biographies.

The Guild: Season Three

New Video NYC, 96 minutes, $14.95

Another made-for-internet series makes it to DVD: this third season finds the six members of the Guild, fans of an online videogame; going up against the Axis of Anarchy, a rival guild led by Fawkes (Wil Wheaton of “Star Trek: TNG”). Also stars Felicia Day, who featured in the “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” outlined above. Extras: the Halloween episode, “Do You Want To Date My Avatar” music video, Guild applicant rejects, featurette, commentary, interviews, gag reel.

In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great

BBC Video, 234 minutes, 2 discs, $34.98

British documentary series presented by historian Michael Wood about the warpath Alexander trod to conquer the known world. Not to be confused with the Oliver Stone film. Extras: featurette, interview.

Leverage: The Second Season

TNT/Paramount, 707 minutes, 15 episodes, 4 discs, $39.99

Second season of modern day Robin Hoods led by Timothy Hutton that stand up for those victimized by the rich and powerful. Wonder if they can do anything about the “too big to fail banks” or BP’s “whoopsie” in the Gulf of Mexico? Extras: commentary on each episode, Q&A, set tour, spoof video, two featurettes, wrap party gag reel.

Documentary on the street games (stickball, Johnny on a Pony, Hopscotch, etc.) that kids used to play before the advent of home video gaming systems and anxious helicopter parents took them inside. Narrated by Hector Elizondo and with many celebrity interviewees. Extras: printed rulebook of all the games.

An apocalyptic event sends a father (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) on the road in search of safer havens. But there’s a lot of danger on the way: gangs, cannibals and other horrors. Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy (“No Country For Old Men”) and also stars Charlize Theron and Robert Duvall. Extras: making-of featurette, deleted scenes, commentary. BD adds movieIQ+sync and BD-Live capacity.

Royal Pains: Season One

Universal, 537 minutes, 3 discs, $59.98

Dr. Hank Lawson (Mark Feuerstein) was a rising star in the New York medical community, but a lost patient turned him into a burnout case. His brother Evean (Paulo Costanzo) invites him to an exclusive party in the Hamptons. When he saves the life of a woman attending the party, he becomes the new concierge doctor for the woes of the wealthy. Extras: episode commentaries, gag reel, featurette, video blogs.

Testament

Athena/Acorn Media, 363 minutes, 7 episodes, 3 discs, $59.99

1988 British documentary series on the history of the Bible, as recounted by Egyptologist John Romer. He discusses the motives and methods of the people who wrote it, attacked it, defended it and transformed it throughout history. Extras: 20 page viewer’s guide, biographies of major Biblical figures.

Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman

Arthouse/New Video, 83 minutes, $26.95

Documentary on architectural photographer Shulman, who documented nearly every major modern and progressive architect since the 1930s. Narrated by Dustin Hoffman. Extras: deleted scenes, additional footage, commentary.

Waiting for God: Season Five

BBC Video, 232 minutes, 8 episodes, 2 discs, $34.98

Final season of the British comedy about an elderly couple that refuses to grow old gracefully. No extras listed. Also part of “The Complete Collection” box set, which retails for $119.98.